McCarthy Marina -- Captiva Island, FL USA
Posted by: 
jkozik
N 26° 31.292 W 082° 11.301
17R E 381597 N 2933990
McCarthy Marina, launching Kayaks and Canoes.
Waymark Code: WM438N
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 06/30/2008
Views: 70
The McCarthy Marina is a nice launch point for Kayaking the Pine Island Sound side of Captiva Island. We see Manatees, Great Blue Heron, Pelicans, Dolphin, Great Egrets, Cormorants, Anhinga, Great Egrets, Osprey, Roseate Spoonbills, etc.
Parking/put-in/launching information:
There's a $5 per car parking fee. You can rent from Captiva Kayak.
Paddling conditions to be expected:
Pine Island Sound is the body of water between Captiva Island and the Florida mainland. At low tide, we were in less than 3 feet of water. At high tide, the water where we paddled was over 6ft.
Difficulty of the trip:
This is an easy trip. Even on windy days the waves are very slight. The weekends have bigger boats going through the deeper navigation channels making some chop. If you paddle over to the mangroves (Chadwick Bayou or Roosevelt Channel side of Buck Key) the water is very still except for the tidal current.
Length of trip: 3miles about 90 minutes
Portages:
none
Permits required:
for Kayaking, none.
Type of trip:
This is a loop trip. Start and stop at McCarthy Marina. Choices are to go North to Chadwich Bayou or go South to Blind Pass, looping around Buck Key.
Other information:
Here's a pointer to my Everytrail GPS track for a Kayak trip from McCarthy Marina, North, looping through Chadwick Bayou and back.
http://everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=3825
Take-out Coordinates: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:Logging waymarks in this category requires a picture of your boat and your GPS at the given parking/launching coordinates,and a brief description of your canoe/kayak trip.
Additional photos and information and/or suggestions for future waymarkers will be appreciated, but is not necessary.